Milliner Philip Treacy honoured as amfAR's London gala raises $2.2 million
At amfAR's London gala, Philip Treacy received an award and spontaneously auctioned a custom hat. Over the evening, Rita Ora swapped a headpiece for a tulle skirt.
Symbolic image · Photo: Olga / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The second amfAR gala in London took place on 16 October at The Chancery Rosewood hotel, with a black-tie dress code. The foundation for AIDS research says it raised $2.2 million. Irish milliner Philip Treacy received the Award of Excellence and actor Jeremy Irons the Award of Inspiration. amfAR CEO Kyle Clifford presented Treacy's award; Edward Enninful, co-founder of EE72, introduced Irons and recalled that he was the first person to wear an AIDS ribbon on screen, at the 1991 Tony Awards.
According to amfAR, Treacy said being recognised by an organisation that has spent 40 years saving lives was more humbling than anything else he could imagine. He then surprised guests by offering a custom-made hat as an auction lot. Other lots included a commissioned work by artist Chloe Wise and a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR's Founding International Chairman.
Jamie Miller opened the evening's music and Rita Ora closed it with hits such as "Anywhere". According to the Daily Mail, Ora first arrived in an oversized blazer and an eye-catching headpiece. On leaving the gala she revealed a blue satin bra with a pale yellow tulle skirt and a red belt – an ensemble reminiscent of Snow White – with a sleek bob, oversized black sunglasses and platform heels.